Costa Mesa, CA Home Safety: Home Safety 92/100
3 ZIP codes · 3 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Costa Mesa: A.
No federal data flags a major home-safety concern for this ZIP.
Based on current monitoring, Costa Mesa holds an above-average drinking water safety record for CA - violations are infrequent and typically minor when they do appear.
How Costa Mesa Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
What You Should Know About Costa Mesa Water
- Homes built before 1986: 78% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $1,733 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 10.23.
Who Supplies Your Water in Costa Mesa
In Costa Mesa, CA, residential water supply is distributed across multiple utilities rather than concentrated in one. The 3 leading providers out of 3 tracked systems each control their own infrastructure, file separate EPA compliance reports, and set independent rate schedules.
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Overview
We track home safety data for 3 ZIP codes in Costa Mesa, California (population ~111,320), covering 3 community water systems serving approximately 623,372 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 2 of 3 ZIP codes.
The available EPA record reports 0 violations for 2 ZIP codes with a reported violation count.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Costa Mesa: A (92/100)
Model 4.0.0 uses four measured components across three equally weighted domains. If a required domain is unavailable, no score is published:
| Factor | What It Measures |
|---|---|
| Water Quality | EPA violations and compliance history |
| PFAS MCL Screen | UCMR 5 testing against the covered federal MCLs |
| Radon Risk | EPA radon zone classification |
| Annual AQI | EPA AirData county-year median with at least 90 observed days |
Water Sources
Costa Mesa water systems draw from: Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0000 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 2 ZIP codes with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 3 (Low Risk)
- Zone 1 (High): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 2 (Moderate): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 3 (Low): 3 ZIP codes
Areas with No Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | System | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 92626 | A | Mesa Water District | 110,000 |
| 92627 | A | Mesa Water District | 110,000 |
All ZIP Codes in Costa Mesa
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Lead/copper: EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data
- Radon: EPA Map of Radon Zones
Reporting periods vary by source. Missing data is shown as unavailable, not as zero.
Health Outcomes in Costa Mesa
Source: CDC PLACES (County-level estimates). Water contamination can correlate with respiratory and chronic health conditions.
Compared to National Average
Vertical line = national average. ■ Above national · ■ Below national
Housing & Infrastructure in Costa Mesa
With 78% of homes built before 1986, lead solder in plumbing is a potential concern. The EPA banned lead solder in 1986, but many older homes retain original plumbing.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).
Housing Age Profile
Reading the housing age data for Costa Mesa - median build year 1969 - the overriding implication is that the plumbing materials inside a typical home here reflect pre-1986 construction standards. In practical terms, that means lead-soldered copper joints are common across much of the housing stock. Where those materials are present, water can leach lead as it moves through joints - a pathway that corrosion control treatment under federal rules is designed to reduce, though it cannot eliminate lead risk where the plumbing materials themselves contain lead.
Over half of homes in Costa Mesa were built before 1986, when lead solder was banned. Older plumbing may leach lead into drinking water, especially with corrosive water chemistry.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.
Cost Context: What Remediation Means for Costa Mesa Homeowners
Within the Costa Mesa market, estimated remediation claims a small portion of typical property equity - the financial burden is proportionally low.
Remediation costs in Costa Mesa are relatively low compared to home values. The $1,033–$3,233 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 46% above the California average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Costa Mesa
Why children are most at risk: The CDC states there is no safe level of lead exposure for children. Children under 6 absorb lead more readily than adults, and even low levels can cause developmental delays, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems.
Pulling a tap sample fills the gap that utility data cannot close, particularly here where 78% of housing dates from the pre-rule era and citywide monitoring sits at or above the regulatory mark in Costa Mesa.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical NFIP Claim Context in Costa Mesa
Historical NFIP data for Costa Mesa contains 134 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $8,062. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 50% have an A- or V-family dominant rated zone recorded in those historical claims. This is not a complete current FEMA property-map inventory.
How flooding affects water quality: Flood events can introduce sewage, agricultural runoff, and industrial chemicals into water supplies. Even after floodwaters recede, contamination can persist in wells and aging infrastructure. The <strong>$1,733</strong> remediation estimate shown here excludes flood insurance and is not derived from NFIP claim count.
Claim count does not establish current property risk. Check the exact address in FEMA's current map and obtain a property-specific insurance quote when relevant.
Source: historical FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claim records. No current FEMA property-map designation is asserted.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Costa Mesa, CA